South Bend paint store reopens after fire

May 06, 2008|TOM MOOR Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- Just two weeks ago Bob Lee watched as his longtime business was destroyed by a fire. On Monday, he welcomed his customers back. C.E. Lee, a family-owned paint store since 1872, opened directly across the street from where it previously was in the 1700 block of N. Ironwood Drive. Lee said a Jackson Hewitt moved out of the new building shortly after tax season ended, and a local attorney the family knows leased the building to them. "We were lucky how well it worked out," Lee said. "It's good to be back. I can't tell you how many people bent over backwards to get us back in business and offer us discounts. The support we've received from the community has been phenomenal." While the old building the family owns still stands across the street, Lee said firefighters told him it's pretty much a total loss. Lee said firefighters have still been unable to determine a cause of the April 22 blaze, which attracted hundreds of people near the Ironwood and Indiana 23 intersection. Nobody was in the store when the fire sparked. The fire at first produced yellow smoke before erupting in flames and thick black smoke. The roof burned through 30 minutes into the fire. Firefighters believe the yellow smoke was likely caused by chemicals. "I felt sorry for other businesses in the area, because the smoke was blowing all over and some of them had to evacuate," Lee said. Lee asks his customers to be patient while they get everything back in stock. Lee said his store boasted the largest wallpaper display in the area. But it will be awhile until that is constructed again. Although there used to be five stores around the area, the Ironwood location is the only current one. Lee, whose son Chuck runs the day-to-day operations at the store, said they may expand again in the future. But for now, Bob Lee is happy to see people coming in and out again. Staff writer Tom Moor: tmoor@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6187